Battistoni Diesel Moving on to Quarter Finals at NABF World Seies

Battle Creek, MI – The Battistoni Diesel went 2-1 in pool play at the NABF World Series Thursday and Friday. They are advancing to the quarter-final round and will face the host city team HBC Behnke today at 2:30 pm. Behnke also took 2 of 3 including an opening game victory over the defending WS champs, the Stratford Storm from Connecticut, 8-6.

The Diesel fought off the Englewood A’s from New Jersey Friday night in a must-win game. BD got off to an early 2-0 lead, then added 5 runs in back-to-back innings in route to a 14-4 victory, sending the A’s back to northern Jersey. This was the A’s first appearance at the WS.

The winner between Diesel and Behnke will face either the St. John’s Leftys from Pittsburgh or the Brooklyn Sports Fever out of Brooklyn, NY at 6pm tonight. The Lefty’s are 0-3 in NABF-WS final appearances, but are consistently tough opponents. Stratford went 0-3 and are heading back to New England. St. John’s and Brooklyn went 2-1 in pool play.

Behnke is managed by Wayne Wardell. They have scored 13 runs and have given up 16 in the 3 games they have played. Diesel has put up 24 (1st) runs and have allowed 14 (T-5th). The Diesel are managed by Paul Wolf, who is also president of the MUNY AAA league in Buffalo, NY.